What do the Pittsburgh Steelers need to make the playoffs? AFC North qualifying chances explored

The Pittsburgh Steelers' odds of qualifying for the postseason games dropped below 1% after losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. They will lose their chance to make the playoffs if they fail to win this week.

According to statistical experts at Five Thirty-Eight, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a one in 1,000 chance of qualifying for the 2022 NFL Postseason, which gave the Steelers a 0.1% probability of qualifying entering Week 15.

These probabilities will only grow to about a 5% possibility even if they come out on top in their remaining games because they will now need massive meltdowns from numerous AFC teams.

The Steelers' prospects of reaching the postseason games are only 2% if they win against the Carolina Panthers and other results go their way this week. However, the Steelers might be mathematically eliminated this week if they fail to win against the Panthers, and a few other things happen.

Are the Pittsburgh Steelers mathematically eliminated from the playoffs?

With five franchises standing between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots, who are presently the No. 7 and last playoff spot in the AFC, the Steelers' fate is all but guaranteed even though they are still 5-8.

The franchise has not competed in another Super Bowl since the one that ended in the 2010 season. They haven't won a championship since the 2008 season. They last played in an AFC Championship Game in January 2017, losing 36-17 to the Patriots. They've lost three playoff games since then.

That is significantly lower than the acceptable level based on the team's standards.

In Week 15, they will take on the advancing Carolina Panthers and attempt to recover. One defeat will effectively eliminate the Steelers from the postseason picture, although at this point, they still have a slight chance of just nicking a wild card slot.

Since taking over as the Steelers' head coach in 2007, Mike Tomlin has never had a negative campaign, but with one more defeat, that record will end. There is already little left to hope for this year. Now is the time to begin planning for the 2023 campaign in the hopes of achieving considerably better outcomes.

Steelers' Remaining Schedule: away vs. Panthers, vs. Las Vegas Raiders, away vs. Ravens, vs. Cleveland Browns.